Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED 26 million for the fourth quarter 2018, in line with the strong net profit recorded in the same period last year. Turnover for the three months ending 31 December 2018 was AED 1 billion, an increase of 20 per cent compared to AED 858 million in the same period in 2017. Air Arabia flew over 2.1 million passengers in the final quarter of 2018, an increase of 5 per cent compared to the same period last year at an impressive average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – of 81 per cent.

Turnover for the full year 2018 was AED 4.12 billion, 10 per cent higher than the turnover recorded in 2017. More than 8.7 million passengers flew with Air Arabia in 2018, an increase of 2 per cent compared to 2017 while the average seat load factor for the year – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – stood at an impressive 81 per cent.

Following the Board of Directors proposed impairment in relation to the Group’s financial exposure in private equity firm Abraaj, the carrier will report an accumulated loss of AED 307 million, subject to ratification by Air Arabia shareholders at the company’s upcoming Annual General Meeting. While Air Arabia’s liquidity status and profitable operations remain intact, this step aims to serve the best interests of the company and its investors. Not withstanding this accounting treatment, Air Arabia Group is actively seeking to maximize the realization of this investment and remains fully engaged with the JPL’s and stakeholders involved in the matter while the legal proceedings taken by Air Arabia and the ongoing court-supervised restructuring of “Abraaj” continues.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “Air Arabia’s fourth quarter and full year results remain fundamentally strong and driven by the carrier’s network expansion strategy, cost control measures and the appealing customer demand to our services. While regional geo-political challenges continued to impact the performance of the aviation sector in the region, we are glad that Air Arabia continues to report solid and sustained growth margins across our network which reflects the strength of our business model.”

He added: “Air Arabia remains amongst the world’s most profitable airlines and the 2018 financial and operational performance is a testament to its continued success. The board’s proposed impairment in relation to Abraaj exposure aims to serve the best interests of the company and its investors through a pragmatic approach to handle the future investment value of this exposure. This impairment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to protect its investment and business interests.”

Air Arabia Group announced in June 2018 that as part of its diverse investment portfolio, it has investments outstanding with Abraaj that is currently going through a court-supervised restructuring.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani concluded: “We expect the solid operating metrics and high seat load factor that Air Arabia achieved in 2018 to continue as the long-term fundamentals of the aviation sector in the region and the underlying demand for affordable air travel remain strong.”

Air Arabia added 26 new routes to its global network in 2018 from its operating hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. The carrier took delivery of 3 new aircraft and ended the year with a fleet of 53 Airbus A320 aircraft operating to over 155 routes across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. In October, Air Arabia celebrated 15 years of successful operations which transformed the air travel industry in the wider MENA region by unveiling a new brand identity that is reflective of its innovative forward-looking and international approach.

Air Arabia continues to be recognised, locally and internationally for its strong performance and community efforts. In March, Air Arabia received the ‘Corporate Editor Choice Award’ at the 2018 Air Transport Awards organised by Air Transport News held in Dubai, UAE. This accolade is a demonstration of Air Arabia’s continued commitment to passenger satisfaction and development within the industry.

The carrier also won Best Arabian Airline 2018 at the Asian Arab Awards held in Bangalore, India, and in December 2018, Air Arabia was honored the Aviation Achievement Award commemorating its 15 years of success.

The carrier’s corporate social responsibility programme ‘Charity Cloud’, which aims at providing sustainable education and healthcare initiatives in underprivileged communities across the world, embarked on 10 new projects spread across its global network.

Roundtrip flights will operate twice a week between Sohag International Airport and King Khalid International Airport. Flights departs Sohag on Fridays at 02:15 hours and on Sundays at 11:00 hours and lands in Riyadh at 05:20 hours and at 14:05 hours local time, respectively.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “Egypt and Saudi Arabia remain key markets of growth and we are glad to connect more cities between both countries through the launch of this direct service connecting Sohag and Riyadh. We look forward to welcoming customers who will now benefit from this direct service while offering convenient and affordable services to travelers from both cities”.

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to more than 155 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

The one-hour flight operates twice a week, every Sunday and Wednesday. Return flights depart Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport at 11:45 hours on Sundays and 19:30 hours local time on Wednesdays arriving Queen Alia International Airport at 12:45 hours and at 20:30 hours local time, respectively.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “This new route is the latest edition to our growing network from Egypt and will enable our customers to discover the amazing lifestyle experiences that both cities offer. Intra-regional tourism in the Arab world is a growing segment of the travel industry and we are glad to contribute to this growth through the launch of affordable and value-driven direct flights”.

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to more than 155 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsMon, 14 Jan 2019 05:35:56 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-a320-new-3.jpg?10000Air Arabia launches direct flights from Sharjah to Belgradehttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-direct-flights-from-sharjah-to-belgrade/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-direct-flights-from-sharjah-to-belgrade/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), has announced the introduction of a new route to Serbia’s capital city, Belgrade, direct from Sharjah, UAE. Air Arabia’s inaugural flight to Belgrade will commence on 28th June 2019 and follows the carrier’s recent launch of flights to the Czech’s capital city, Prague.

Return flights to Belgrade will operate four times a week, every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Tuesdays and Fridays, flights will depart Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 09:00 hours arriving at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) at 13:00 local time, while return flights departs Belgrade at 13:40 hours, arriving to Sharjah at 21:00 hours local time.

On Thursdays and Saturdays, the scheduled departure time from Sharjah is 15:45 hours, arriving to Belgrade at 19:45 hours local time, while the return flight with depart from Belgrade at 21:45, arriving to Sharjah at 05:05 local time the following day.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “We are glad to add the capital and largest city in Serbia, Belgrade to our growing tourist hotspots with direct flights from Sharjah. The new Sharjah to Belgrade service offers our customers a unique opportunity to discover a colorful and historic city situated on the main route that connects Europe and Asia while it reflects Air Arabia’s commitment to continuously offer our customers affordable and value driven air travel.”

Belgrade is an increasingly popular and historic tourist destination, located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. The city has varying architecture, from the center of Zemun, typical of a Central European town, to the more modern architecture and spacious layout of New Belgrade.

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to more than 155 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC). Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a fleet of 53 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving over 150 routes from four hubs in the UAE (SHJ & RKT), Morocco and Egypt. Air Arabia is an award-winning airline that focuses on offering comfort, reliability and value-for-money air travel. For further information, please visit: www.airarabia.com.

]]>Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), launched its inaugural flight to a new European destination, Prague in Czech Republic, direct from Sharjah, UAE.

The launch flight departed Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 07:35 hours and landed in Prague Václav Havel Airport on Tuesday December 11th, at 11:20 hours local time.

The 6 hour 50-minute flight operates five times a week, every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On Tuesdays and Sundays, the departing flight leaves Sharjah at 07:35 hours and arrives in Prague at 11:20 hours local time; the return flight departs Prague at 12:00 and arrives in Sharjah the following morning at 21:00 hours. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the departing flight leaves Sharjah at 15:35 hours and arrives in Prague at 19:20 hours local time; the return flight departs Prague at 21:05 and arrives in Sharjah the following morning at 06:05 hours.

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to more than 150 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

Epic world-first flying formation with four types of commercial aircraft from Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia and flydubai, and seven Al Fursan jets

Aircraft flew in precision formation marking the UAE’s 47th National Day

UAE aviation history made with breathtaking ‘Year of Zayed’ aerial display

]]>Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and Al Fursan took to the skies in unison today to celebrate the UAE’s 47th National Day, as well as commemorate the legacy and values of HH Sheikh Zayed. The late founding father of the UAE dedicated his life and leadership to unify and shape a better collective future for the nation, and today’s formation flight is a soaring display of unity as all four carriers showcase the UAE’s aviation success story to the nation and world.

The spectacular flypast - a world-first and a UAE civil aviation milestone - involved over 11 aircraft: a flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 (Zayed 1), an Air Arabia Airbus A320 (Zayed 2), an Etihad Airways Airbus A380 (Zayed 3) and an Emirates Airline Airbus A380 (Zayed 4), as well as seven Al Fursan aerobatic display jets from the UAE Air Force. All of the commercial aircraft within the formation were emblazoned with ‘Year of Zayed’ decals. This is also the first time this unique combination of aircraft types fly in formation.

The aircraft were proudly commanded by Captain Adrian Smith from flydubai, Captain Nadhem Al Hamad from Air Arabia, Captain Richard Dyson from Etihad Airways and Captain Abbas Shaban from Emirates Airline. The Al Fursan team was led by Lieutenant Colonel Nasser Al Obaidli.

Formation and flight path

The carefully choreographed ‘stair step’ aerial formation began this afternoon at 1300hrs, when the aircraft took-off from Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport. Once all of the aircraft established their holding positions with altitudes ranging from 2,000 feet to 5,000 feet with a 1,000 foot vertical separation, the formation commenced. Over the skies of Ras Al Khaimah, each aircraft adjusted its speed and turned to achieve a trail formation. The aircraft then descended into their positions and vertical separation was reduced to 300 feet.

Flying first in the ‘Year of Zayed’ formation was flydubai, cruising at an altitude of 1,000 feet and an airspeed of 210 knots, closely followed by Air Arabia, in line astern and stepped up at an altitude of 1,300 feet. Next came the Etihad Airbus A380 double-decker, trailing the first two aircraft and flying at 1,600 feet, stepped up by the Emirates Airbus A380 flying at the highest altitude at 1,900 feet to make room for the seven Al Fursan jets set in an arrow formation ready to release their signature smoke trails in the colours of the UAE flag.

Together, the stunning UAE carrier formation flew with impressive precision across the coastline of the UAE, starting at Ras Al Khaimah, continuing on to Um Al Quwain and Ajman, and then passing landmarks including the Sharjah Corniche, Dubai’s Palm and World Islands with the Burj Khalifa skyline in the background, and finally crossing the Abu Dhabi Corniche and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, where all aircraft then split and continued on to their respective airports for landing.

Executive remarks

Precision planning and co-ordination

While the flawlessly executed aerial formation flight may appear to be a straightforward assignment, the mission was under planning for more than five months due to the complexity of the formation and the number of aircraft involved. With a primary focus on flight safety, the meticulous technical planning and co-ordination involved all four airlines and multiple regulatory stakeholders.

The success of the formation flight was made possible by the collaboration between the pilots and flight operation managers from each airline, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), UAE Ministry of Defence, air traffic controllers, the Abu Dhabi Department of Transportation and Civil Aviation Authorities from other UAE emirates, amongst others.

All stakeholders worked together to identify suitable locations for the flight formation patterns, taking into account air traffic, areas overflown, route planning, visibility, and potential wind and weather conditions. The entire formation route was protected from any passing traffic within a Temporary Restricted Area controlled by the GCAA. Meetings were held to establish each airline’s position within the formation and precise visual reference points were drawn up so each aircraft could safely join and hold their plotted position. In addition, all pilots went through rigorous flight simulation exercises.

A rehearsal flight was done on 8 November 2018 to ensure that the formation positions worked appropriately with the Al Fursan air display team. The test-run ‘Year of Zayed’ formation also included two helicopters and an Aero L-39 Albatross chase plane from the Latvian based Baltic Bees aerobatic display team to film every detail and aspect of the formation.

The “Year of Zayed” is a tribute to HH Sheikh Zayed’s remarkable legacy which has left a lasting imprint on the UAE. The inspirational leader created a vision of prosperity, determination and tolerance – attributes that remain strongly embedded in UAE culture and across all UAE aviation organisations.

]]>newsSun, 02 Dec 2018 13:32:00 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_fit-to-size-451439.jpg?10000Air Arabia selects Thales for its fleet Electronic Flight Bag systemhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-selects-thales-for-its-fleet-electronic-flight-bag-system/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-selects-thales-for-its-fleet-electronic-flight-bag-system/Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, selected Thales for its new Aviobook Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system that allows pilots to operate efficiently in the cockpit with digital manuals and charts. The signing happened at the side-lines of Bahrain International Airshow taking place this week in Bahrain.

Air Arabia had already implemented the Aviobook Electronic Flight Bag system years back that helped the airline reduces the amount of paper required to be carried on board while bringing robust efficiency into its operations. Thales Pads will now replace existing electronic devises on board ensuring latest technology is adopted. The new EFB, lighter in weight, includes enhanced features while and provides highest level of reliability and performance on board.

These devices are planned to be progressively rolled out across the entire Air Arabia fleet starting April 2019. Air Arabia currently operates a fleet of 53 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving over 150 routes from four hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. The carrier is also expected to receive the delivery of 5 Airbus A321 neo LR in 2019.

]]>newsThu, 15 Nov 2018 12:53:45 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_thales-signing-255925.jpg?10000Air Arabia reports strong nine-month 2018 net profit of AED 530 millionhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-reports-strong-nine-month-2018-net-profit-of-aed-530-million/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-reports-strong-nine-month-2018-net-profit-of-aed-530-million/Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today its financial results for the nine months ending September 30, 2018, demonstrating high levels of profitability and solid operational metrics.

During the first nine months of 2018, Air Arabia registered a turnover of 3 billion, 8 per cent increase compared to AED 2.8 billion registered during the same period last year. Net profit for the first nine months of this year stood at 530 million, 17 per cent lower than the net profits recorded for the corresponding period in 2017. Air Arabia’s robust financial performance was recorded despite the strong impact of high oil price and currency devaluation on the industry’s bottom line.

More than 6.6 million passenger flew with the low-cost pioneer during the nine months of 2018 while the average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – for the same period stood at an impressive 80 per cent.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia said: “Supported by strong revenue figures and passenger demand; Air Arabia’s net profit for the third quarter and year to date remained strong despite profit margins being impacted by the sharp rise in fuel price and the currency devaluation witnessed in several key travel markets”.

Revenue for the third quarter ending September 30, 2018, stood at AED 1.28 billion, a 10 percent increase compared with AED 1.16 billion in the same period of 2017. Net profit in the third quarter of 2018 reached AED 300 million, 20 per cent lower than the corresponding 2017 figure. More than 2.4 million passengers were served in the third quarter of 2018, a 5 per cent increase on the corresponding period of 2017, while the average seat load factor stood at an impressive 81 per cent.

He continued: “The global economic outlook remains under renewed pressure and airlines worldwide have been challenged by pressured yield margins and increase in cost structure while political and economic tensions continue to drive currency and oil price volatility. We believe that such impactful challenges are temporary and the long term outlook for the low cost travel in the region remains fundamentally strong”.

Air Arabia grew its global network year to-date to exceed 150 destinations worldwide served from multiple hubs spread across the UAE, Morocco and Egypt, with a fleet of 53 aircraft, and plans for further expansion in 2019. The carrier won two awards in the third quarter of this year winning the Best Arabian Airline at Asian Arab Awards 2018 as well as the Middle East Leading Innovative Airline at the Travel Tech Gala Awards 2018.

Air Arabia celebrated 15 years of successful operations in October this year by unveiling its new brand identity which is reflective of its innovative forward-looking and international approach. Air Arabia Group has now grown to become a leading publicly listed company consisting of airlines and businesses providing travel and tourism services across the globe.

]]>newsWed, 14 Nov 2018 10:48:00 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-a320-new-3.jpg?10000Air Arabia celebrates 15th anniversary with new brand identityhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-celebrates-15th-anniversary-with-new-brand-identity/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-celebrates-15th-anniversary-with-new-brand-identity/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), celebrated 15 years of successful operations which transformed the air travel industry in the wider MENA region by unveiling a new brand identity that is reflective of its innovative forward-looking and international approach.

The unveiling took place during a launch ceremony at the Air Arabia hangar in Sharjah International Airport where guests and press got to view the carrier’s new corporate identity including the new aircraft livery and interior through a live display of one of Air Arabia’s newly branded Airbus A320 aircraft.

Air Arabia has experienced solid and sustained growth since the launch of its first flight in 28 October 2003; when the carrier introduced a new way of taking flight for the Arab world. From the earliest days of serving just five routes with two aircraft, the airline has grown to currently serving over 155 routes from multiple hubs spread across the UAE, Morocco and Egypt, served by a fleet of 53 aircraft, with plans for further expansion in 2019. More importantly, Air Arabia Group has grown to become a leading publicly listed company consisting of airlines and businesses providing travel and tourism services across the globe.

Setting new benchmark in operational excellence, innovation and profitability, Air Arabia’s new brand identity grows from the idea “Now, more than ever” reflecting Air Arabia’s ambitious, customer relevant and eager personality while positioned to provide customers with true value and accessible air travel options.

The new brand identity is derived from the creative idea of ‘Modern Nomads’, reflecting the positioning of Air Arabia as an airline of true value that connect with the young, adventurous, and those who are eager to travel, discover new places and collect new experiences.

The new logotype has evolved to reflect a more modern, simple, versatile, and global brand, with a promise to offer true value, reliable services and provide customers with greater travel opportunities. The airline has maintained its symbol, the seagull, modernizing it and further spreading its wings reflecting the carrier’s growth and outlook while staying true to its original look.

]]>newsSun, 28 Oct 2018 10:07:00 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-a320-new-3.jpg?10000Air Arabia launches new route to Sulaimaniyah to mark fourth Iraqi destinationhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-new-route-to-sulaimaniyah-to-mark-fourth-iraqi-destination/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-new-route-to-sulaimaniyah-to-mark-fourth-iraqi-destination/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), has announced the launch of non-stop service to the city of Sulaymaniyah in the north of Iraq.

The new service from the carrier’s primary hub in Sharjah marks Air Arabia’s fourth destination in Iraq and 152 worldwide. From November 6, 2018, Air Arabia will offer two weekly flights to Sulaimaniyah, making it convenient for passengers travelling between both cities.

Offering convenient timings, the three-hour flight will operate twice per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. The outbound flight on Tuesday’s will depart from Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 05:00 and land in Sulaimaniyah International Airport (ISU) at 06:55 local time. The return flight will leave Sulaimaniyah at 07:35 and land in Sharjah at 11:05 local time.

On Fridays, the flight will depart from Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 15:00 and land in Sulaimaniyah International Airport (ISU) at 16:55 local time. The return flight will leave Sulaimaniyah at 17:35 and land in Sharjah at 21:05 local time.

“We are pleased to launch this new service to Sulaimaniyah, our fourth destination in Iraq, after Baghdad, Najaf and Erbil,” said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia. “We continuously seek ways to enhance airline connectivity with Iraq, given the growth in business ties between the two nations. The additional route is a testament to Air Arabia’s commitment to providing affordable air travel to our growing customer base.”

Air Arabia continues its mission to create an ever-expanding network of diverse destinations, allowing for value driven cost-effective travel.

]]>newsMon, 15 Oct 2018 13:00:00 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-a320-new-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia launches new route to Kabul http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-new-route-to-kabul/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-new-route-to-kabul/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), has announced the introduction of its new flight to Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, direct from Sharjah, UAE. Air Arabia’s introductory flight to the city will commence on October 4, 2018.

The 2 hour 30-minute flight will operate four times per week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The outbound flight from UAE will depart from Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 06:40 hours and arrive in Kabul International Airport (KBL) at 09:40 local time. The return flight will leave Kabul at 10:40 hours and arrive in Sharjah at 13:00 local time.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “Kabul is a new addition to our network that will meet the needs of thousands of people traveling between Afghanistan and the UAE as well as the wider region. We look forward to the launch of this new route which connects the two destinations, and provide our passengers with Air Arabia’s value for money services.”

Air Arabia currently operates flights to more than 150 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsWed, 26 Sep 2018 05:37:51 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airplane-above-clouds2-3.jpg?10000Air Arabia reports net profit of AED 230 million in first half of 2018, carrying a solid 4.2 million passengerhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-reports-net-profit-of-aed-230-million-in-first-half-of-2018-carrying-a-solid-42-million-passenger/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-reports-net-profit-of-aed-230-million-in-first-half-of-2018-carrying-a-solid-42-million-passenger/Air Arabia (PJSC) today announced strong financial results for the first half ending June 30, 2018 as the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier continued to deliver solid and sustained financial performance.

Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED 230 million for the first half ending June 30, 2018; a 12 per cent less than the AED 261 million reported for the same period last year. The company’s turnover for the first six months of 2018 reached AED 1.816 billion, an increase of 6 per cent compared to AED 1.716 billion in the corresponding period last year. Air Arabia’s strong profits are registered despite the economic pressure that airlines have witnessed in the second quarter of this year, which was driven by lower yield margins, higher fuel prices and seasonality shift in traffic that the market has experienced.

Marking strong growth in passenger demand, Air Arabia flew 4.2 million passengers during the first half of 2018 and the airline’s average seat load factor for the first six month of 2018 - passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – stood at impressive 79 per cent.

He continued: “The global aviation industry had to cope up with pressing economic challenges during the second quarter of this year and we are glad to see Air Arabia continuing to deliver strong financial and operational performance while maintaining its momentum growth across the breadth of its network.”

The company’s turnover in the second quarter ending June 30, 2018 reached AED 938 million, a 4 per cent increase compared to the same period of 2017. Net profit during the second quarter 2018 stood at AED 120 million, a 24 per cent less than the corresponding period of 2017. Air Arabia flew over 2.05 million passengers in the second quarter ending June 30, 2018 and the airline’s average seat load factor for the same period stood at a high 78 per cent.

He concluded: “Trading conditions continue to be influenced by the regional geopolitical and economic challenges, however, the outlook of low-cost travel in the region remains very strong. We continue to focus on further expanding our reach and operational efficiency capitalizing on the fundamental strength of our business model and the value driven product offering to our customers”.

During the first half of 2018, Air Arabia received three brand new Airbus A320 airplanes bringing its fleet size to 53 aircraft. The carrier added a total of 12 new routes to its global network in the first half of this year. Flights from Air Arabia’s main hub in Sharjah commenced to Moscow Sheremetyevo and Grozny in Russia; Bodrum and Izmir in Turkey; and Qabala in Azerbaijan. The carrier also expanded its operation from its Egypt hub with new flights connecting Alexandria to Milan; Alexandria to Sharm El Sheikh; Sohag to Jeddah and Kuwait; and Sharm El Sheikh to Beirut and Hurghada. The carrier also expanded domestic operation from its Morocco hub with a new flight connecting Nador with Casablanca. Air Arabia today operates flights to over 150 global destinations in 49 countries from four hubs in the UAE, Morocco, and Egypt.

In March, Air Arabia received the ‘Corporate Editor Choice Award’ at the 2018 Air Transport Awards organised by Air Transport News, in recognition of Air Arabia’s continued commitment to passenger satisfaction and development within the industry.

In June, the carrier declared that the financial exposure it has with the private equity firm “Abraaj” is limited to the Group’s investment portfolio and that there is no significant impact on Air Arabia’s business or on its liquidity status. As the court-supervised restructuring of Abraaj’s financially stressed funds is currently taking place, Air Arabia’s appointed team of experts continue to be actively engaged with the appointed JPL’s as well as all stakeholders and creditors involved in this matter to ensure that the rights of investors – including Air Arabia - are preserved.

]]>newsThu, 30 Aug 2018 09:17:31 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airplane-above-clouds2-3.jpg?10000 Air Arabia signs agreement with SAP for cloud-based Human Resources systemhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-signs-agreement-with-sap-for-cloud-based-human-resources-system/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-signs-agreement-with-sap-for-cloud-based-human-resources-system/Air Arabia - the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), has announced today that it has signed an agreement with SAP – a global market leader in enterprise application software for a new cloud-based Human Resources system.

The new system “SAP SuccessFactors” will provide Air Arabia with advanced capabilities across all HR functions using some of the latest technologies and cutting edge human capital management software solutions.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “Since its launch, Air Arabia has always adopted smart and cutting-edge technologies that supports that carrier’s ever growing operations with reliability and efficiency. The new agreement with SAP is in line with this strategy and we look forward to working together to make this project a success.”

Julien Bertin, Managing Director, SAP said: “We have developed the SAP Model Company for Human Resources service to support digital HR transformation. We are confident that Air Arabia’S human capital function will considerably benefit from a ready-to-run, preconfigured SAP SuccessFactors solution based on leading practices for end-to-end HR business processes. We are proud to have partnered with Air Arabia and we look forward to a successful collaboration.”

Through this agreement, Air Arabia will acquire advanced capabilities across all its Human Capital functions via the use of the latest technologies provided by SAP SuccessFactors scope, which include core employee management functions, the payroll system, employee self-service, recruitment and onboarding, performance and goal management, learning management, manpower planning and many additional features.

]]>newsThu, 30 Aug 2018 09:13:04 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_im--2919.jpg?10000Air Arabia Maroc supports Young Moroccan Innovative Entrepreneurs http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-maroc-supports-young-moroccan-innovative-entrepreneurs/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-maroc-supports-young-moroccan-innovative-entrepreneurs/On the occasion of the "Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle" competition organized every summer in Turkey, Air Arabia supported an electric car project driven by engineers from Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in TangierFully aware of the importance of sustainable development in the area of transportation, Air Arabia Maroc, the leading low cost airline in the region, supported a team of Moroccan engineering students, that participated in the "Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle", international competition held from 6 to 12 August 2018 in the province of Kocaeli in Turkey.

Held every summer in Turkey, the "Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle" is a groundbreaking initiative that brings together universities from around the world. It contributes to raising awareness about the use of alternative energies and highlights students' interdisciplinary work.

On this occasion, Air Arabia Maroc sponsored an electric car project, entitled "Hercules" designed and manufactured by a group of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University students in Tangier. The company is glad to support the young entrepreneurs for this excellent initiative and wish them good luck for the competition.

]]>newsWed, 08 Aug 2018 15:20:06 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_img-80191.jpg?10000Air Arabia Maroc launches new service connecting Basel to Agadir http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-maroc-launches-new-service-connecting-basel-to-agadir/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-maroc-launches-new-service-connecting-basel-to-agadir/Air Arabia Maroc announced today the launch of its second service from Basel to Morocco. After Basel- Casablanca, operating since 2010, the new service connecting Basel to Agadir will start on 29th October 2018.

The new service which is currently open for sale will operate, once a week on Mondays, as follows:

Basel to Agadir

Departure 12h10 – Arrival 14h55

Agadir to Basel

Departure 06h30 - Arrival 11h20

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “We are pleased to announce the launch of our second service from Basel Airport. After seven years of operations to Casablanca, we have decided to offer our customers a new value for money option to fly directly to the sunny city of Agadir.”

Air Arabia Maroc, which was established in April 2009, is Morocco’s largest low cost carrier and part of the Air Arabia Group. It currently operates flights to 53 European routes from six cities in Morocco: Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Marrakech, Nador and Agadir.

Agadir is a major touristic city in Morocco known for its pleasant climate and a 10-kilometer long seafront offering visitors an unforgettable experience.

]]>newsWed, 08 Aug 2018 14:49:53 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airarabia-sunset.jpg?10000 Air Arabia takes delivery of two new Airbus A320 aircraft http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-takes-delivery-of-two-new-airbus-a320-aircraft/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-takes-delivery-of-two-new-airbus-a320-aircraft/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced it has taken two new Airbus A320 aircraft deliveries bringing its total operating fleet to 53 aircraft.

The latest Airbus A320 arrived on schedule from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France, marking the completion of all deliveries this year.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “The delivery of our last two aircraft for 2018 marks a significant step in the development of our fleet expansion strategy especially as we added 12 new routes this year. We are proud to have created one of the industry’s most modern fleet through exceptional organic growth which helped us offer customers a wider range of destinations at great value.”

The new A320 aircraft have gone straight into service across Air Arabia’s over 150 destination network served from the main carrier hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. The airline added 12 new routes from its hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt in the first half of 2018.

The A320 family is the world’s best-selling and most modern single-aisle aircraft family. All Air Arabia aircraft cabin interiors are fitted with a world-class comfort seats offering one of the highest seat pitch of any economy cabin across the globe and therefore, offering passengers extra leg room to sit back and relax during their flight.

The next delivery will be Air Arabia’s first A321neo LR to join the fleet early next year. Adding the A321 to the fleet will enable the low-cost carrier to extend its fleet reach and therefore enter new markets as well as better serve existing high-density routes.

]]>newsTue, 03 Jul 2018 12:02:46 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_a320-air-arabia-delivery002.jpg?10000 Air Arabia launches direct flights connecting Beirut and Sharm El Sheikhhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-direct-flights-connecting-beirut-and-sharm-el-sheikh/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-direct-flights-connecting-beirut-and-sharm-el-sheikh/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced the launch of twice-weekly flights between Lebanon’s capital, Beirut and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, two highly popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean and North African countries.

The approximate 1 hour 20-minute flight will operate every Thursday and Sunday departing on Thursdays from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) at 21:10 hours and arriving in Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (HMB) at 22:00 hours. On Sundays flights depart Beirut at 14:45 hours to arrive in Sharm El Sheikh at 15:35 hours. Return flights will depart Sharm El Sheikh at 17:45 hours to arrive in Beirut at 20:30 hours on Thursdays and depart Sharm El Sheikh at 11:20 hours on Sunday to arrive in Beirut at 14:05 hours the same day.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, commented: “We are glad to announce this new direct route connecting Beirut with Sharm El Sheikh offering Lebanese holiday seekers a range of attractions from desert mountain ranges to the deep-blue sea providing an incredible combination of desert and sea. Our twice-weekly service to this beautiful city, just over an hour away from Beirut, is an answer to the growing demand among Lebanon-based holidaymakers.”

Sharm El Sheikh, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Arab world, is often called the ‘City of Peace’ and is a well-known port and resort town at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, popular with package holiday makers and divers.

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to over 150 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

The 1 hour 15-minute flight will operate every Wednesday, starting June 27, 2018, departing from Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (HMB) at 08:30 hours and arriving in Borg El Arab Airport (HBE) in Alexandria at 09:45 hours. The return flight will depart Alexandria the same day at 19:20 hours and land back in Sharm El Sheikh at 20:35 hours local time the same day.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “With both domestic air travel continuing to grow and international tourists looking for value-for-money services for inter-city travel, Air Arabia Egypt first domestic route will cater to this growing demand. Both Sharm El Sheikh and Alexandria are spectacular getaways that connect visitors to the amazing natural abundance as well as the unique charm of historical architecture and rich cultural heritage.”

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to over 150 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED110 million for the three months ending March 31, 2018, an 8 percent increase compared to the corresponding 2017 figure of AED102 million. In the same period, the airline posted a turnover of AED877 million, an 8 percent increase compared to the first quarter of last year. More than 2 million passengers flew with Air Arabia between January and March 2018, in line with the record number of passengers carried in the first quarter of last year. The airline’s average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – during the first three months of 2018 stood at an impressive 80 per cent.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “We are glad to see Air Arabia’s record 2017 financial results continue with the solid earnings registered in the first quarter 2018. The strong financial performance for the first quarter is a reflection of the robust business model that we operate and is driven by our clear strategy for growth. The strong passenger demand combined with the solid cost control measures that we took in driving cost margins lower continue to positively impact the financial performance of the carrier.”

He added: “As we continue to witness strong customer appeal for our services, we remain committed to investing in innovative and value added products that will provide our customers with unmatchable value while traveling by air. We remain optimistic about the prospects of low cost air travel in the wider region and our ability to continue to report sustained profitability and achieve solid growth margins across our network”.

Air Arabia added three new routes from its hubs in the UAE and Egypt in the first three months of 2018, with flights commencing from Sharjah to Moscow Sheremetyevo in Russia and to Jeddah and Kuwait from Sohag in Egypt. This was followed by the announcement of new flights from Sharjah to Qabala in Azerbaijan; Izmir and Bodrum in Turkey staring June 2018 and to Grozny in Russia starting April 2018. The carrier has also received the ‘Corporate Editor Choice Award’ at the 2018 Air Transport Awards demonstrating Air Arabia’s continued commitment to passenger satisfaction and development within the industry.

]]>newsThu, 10 May 2018 06:45:05 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airplane-above-clouds2-3.jpg?10000Air Arabia Egypt starts direct flights between Sohag and Kuwait http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-egypt-starts-direct-flights-between-sohag-and-kuwait/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-egypt-starts-direct-flights-between-sohag-and-kuwait/As part of its route expansion strategy, Air Arabia Egypt launched a new route linking Sohag in Egypt to Kuwait.

The new flights operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, departing from Sohag International Airport (HMB) at 2340 hours and arriving in Kuwait International Airport (KWI) at 0305 hours the following day. The return flight will depart Kuwait at 0345 hours and land in Sohag at 0535 hours local time – operating Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “Egypt is one of our fastest growing markets driven by both business and tourist travellers. The expansion of our existing network of direct flights from and to Egypt is aligned with our ongoing commitment to offering our passengers access to destinations at tremendous value.”

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to over 148 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa, continues on the mission to create an ever-expanding network of diverse destinations, allowing for high-quality and cost-effective travel.

]]>newsWed, 11 Apr 2018 11:33:53 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airarabia-sunset.jpg?10000Air Arabia receives ATN’s Corporate Editor Choice Awardhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-receives-atns-corporate-editor-choice-award/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-receives-atns-corporate-editor-choice-award/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), has received the ‘Corporate Editor Choice Award’ at the 2018 Air Transport Awards organised by Air Transport News held this year in Dubai, UAE. The accolade is a demonstration of Air Arabia’s continued commitment to passenger satisfaction and development within the industry.

Air Arabia picked up the prestigious award at the Air Transport Awards which remains to be the only international prizes that award all the main categories of the air transport industry.

The jury for the judging process comprised of prominent leaders from the field of aviation, government and air transport bodies. Nominations submitted were evaluated by jury members with the final winner per category being adjudged on overall consensus.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “We are very pleased to be awarded the ATN Editor Choice Award recognising the achievements that Air Arabia has accomplished over the years. We are proud to see that millions of customers continue enjoying our value driven services since we introduced low-cost travel to the MENA region almost 15 years ago. Such prestigious awards remind us of the good work we continue to do over the years. I thank ATN for this award which I dedicate to our customers and staff all over the world.”

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to 147 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa, and continues its mission to create an ever-expanding network of diverse destinations, allowing for high-quality and cost-effective travel.

]]>newsWed, 28 Mar 2018 05:32:39 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airplane-above-clouds2-3.jpg?10000Air Arabia Egypt to start direct flights between Sohag and Jeddahhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-egypt-to-start-direct-flights-between-sohag-and-jeddah/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-egypt-to-start-direct-flights-between-sohag-and-jeddah/As part of its route expansion strategy, Air Arabia Egypt announced the launch of a new route linking Sohag in Egypt to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, starting March 20, 2018.

The 1 hour 20 minutes flight, which will be the seventh Air Arabia new route being announced this year, will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, departing from Sohag International Airport (HMB) at 0625 hours and arriving in King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) at 0900 hours. The return flight will depart Jeddah at 0950 hours and land back in Sohag at 1030 hours local time the same day.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “As air travel continues to grow, especially more so in the Middle East, we will continue to cater to demand in our core markets. The route to Jeddah from Sohag will further contribute in the travel and tourism growth of Egypt and Saudi Arabia offering direct connectivity between both cities. This step also underlines our commitment to offering our passengers access to destinations at tremendous value.”

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to over 147 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa, and continues on the mission to create an ever-expanding network of diverse destinations, allowing for high-quality and cost-effective travel.

]]>newsTue, 20 Mar 2018 05:34:52 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airplane-above-clouds2-3.jpg?10000Air Arabia delivers record 2017 net profit of AED 662 million, up 30% http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-delivers-record-2017-net-profit-of-aed-662-million-up-30/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-delivers-record-2017-net-profit-of-aed-662-million-up-30/Air Arabia (PJSC) today announced full-year financial results for 2017 as the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier once again delivered high levels of profitability and growth across the breadth of its operations.

Air Arabia’s net profit for the full year ending December 31, 2017 was AED 662 million, a 30 per cent increase compared to AED 509 million registered in 2016. Turnover for the full year 2017 was in line with the preceding 12 months reaching AED 3.74 billion. More than 8.5 million passengers flew with Air Arabia in 2017 and the average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – in 2017 stood at an impressive 79 per cent.

Following its solid full year 2017 performance, Air Arabia’s Board of Directors proposed a dividend distribution of 10 per cent of share capital, which is equivalent to 10 fils per share. This proposal was made following a meeting of the board of directors of Air Arabia and is subject to ratification by Air Arabia’s shareholders at the company’s upcoming Annual General Meeting.

Air Arabia added 21 new routes to its global network in 2017 from its five operating hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. The carrier took delivery of 4 new aircraft and ended the year with a fleet of 50 Airbus A320 aircraft operating to 140 routes across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia said: “Air Arabia has enjoyed consistent and sustained growth in 2017 driven by its network expansion strategy and cost control measures helping us to once again deliver a strong set of results. While political and economic challenges continued to impact the performance of the aviation sector in 2017, we have focused more keenly than ever on ensuring the highest level of operational efficiency and appealing product offering”.

He added: “Air Arabia’s ability to continue to report sustained profitability and achieve solid growth margins across our network reflects the strength of our business model and the carrier’s management team”.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED 26 million, an increase of 177 per cent compared to a net loss of AED 33 million registered in the last quarter of 2016. Turnover for the three months ending December 31, 2017 was AED 858 million, an increase of 5.4 per cent compared to AED 814 million in the same period in 2016. Air Arabia flew over 2 million passengers in the final quarter of 2017 at an impressive seat factor of 78%.

“The solid operating metrics and high seat load factor that Air Arabia achieved in the fourth quarter were positively impacted by improvement in yield margins and capacity rationalisation that the market have seen in the last quarter” Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani continued: “We are extremely confident about the long-term fundamentals of the aviation sector in the region which is driven by the underlying demand for air travel, major investments undertaken in aviation infrastructure in the region as well as the region’s hub position on the global map”.

He concluded: “We believe Air Arabia has the right business model, operating base and infrastructure in place to continue delivering innovative value driven services to our customers. We will continue to explore opportunities and enter into new ventures that will best serve the airline’s ambitious growth plans and at the same time provide highest returns to our shareholders”.

Air Arabia continues to be recognized, locally and internationally, for its strong performance and community efforts. In 2017, Air Arabia won "Outstanding Performance – Robust Performance and Community Initiatives” by the Aviation Achievement Awards 2017 at the Aviation Annual Gala Evening 2017. The carrier’s corporate social responsibility program “Charity Cloud”, which aims at providing sustainable education and healthcare initiatives in underprivileged communities across the world, embarked on 10 new projects spread across Kenya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Sudan, Egypt and Jordan.

]]>newsSun, 11 Feb 2018 13:50:10 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0443.jpg?10000Grozny joins Air Arabia’s Russia network http://press.airarabia.com/grozny-joins-air-arabias-russia-network/
http://press.airarabia.com/grozny-joins-air-arabias-russia-network/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today its new route to Grozny, capital of the Chechen Republic in Russia. Air Arabia will begin flights to Grozny on 20th April, 2018.

Air Arabia’s Russia network, which recently increased by launching flights to Sheremetyevo International Airport adding a second route for travel to the Russian capital, has been extended to include the city of Grozny from April 2018.

The Grozny flight will operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 13:00 hours and arriving at Grozny International Airport at 016:10 hours local time. The return flight will depart Grozny at 17:15 hours, landing in Sharjah at 19:50 hours local time.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “Expanding our Russia network, to include the new state capital of Grozny, forms an important part of Air Arabia’s ongoing commitment to our passengers to access affordable and unique holiday destinations. This new flight option will offer passengers the opportunity to explore Grozny and experience the rich history and culture of this exciting city, at great value. The new route adds to our existing network in Russia, which already includes Moscow”.

Located on the banks of the Sunzha River, Grozny has a rich and diverse, history and is home to the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, one of the most lavish in the world. Completed in 2008, it is locally known as the Heart of Chechnya and is by far the largest mosque in Russia.

Air Arabia, currently operates flights to 140 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa, continues on the mission to create an ever expanding network of diverse destinations, allowing for high-quality and cost-effective travel.

]]>newsTue, 06 Feb 2018 08:25:02 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0254-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia launches flights to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airporthttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-flights-to-moscows-sheremetyevo-international-airport/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-launches-flights-to-moscows-sheremetyevo-international-airport/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), today announced the launch of its inaugural flight to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport, adding a second route for travel to the Russian capital.

The inaugural flight landed in Sheremetyevo International Airport at 13:35 local time and an Air Arabia delegation headed by the airline Group Chief Executive Officer were on board the inaugural flight that was received by Sheremetyevo Airport officials who were present for the arrival of the flight.

Air Arabia announced that the flight will initially operate four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, before being upgraded to a daily service from 1 March 2018.

“We thank the Russian authorities and Sheremetyevo International Airport for their warm welcome. Moscow is a metropolis that brims with culture, and Sheremetyevo adds a convenient gateway to enter and discover this historic city,” said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. “Through flexible and affordable travel options, and our award-winning services, we remain committed to providing our passengers with the best, and are confident that this new route will complement our existing flights to Domodedovo in making Moscow a unique and unforgettable destination.”

Air Arabia currently operates flights to over 140 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsFri, 02 Feb 2018 23:00:00 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airarabialaunchesflightstomoscowrsquossheremetyevointernationalairport2.jpg?10000Air Arabia adds Izmir to growing Turkey networkhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-adds-izmir-to-growing-turkey-network/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-adds-izmir-to-growing-turkey-network/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today that, from 27 June 2018, it will become the first airline to connect the UAE and the Turkish city of Izmir with a direct flight.

Izmir, which is the third largest city in Turkey, joins Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, and Trabzon as the carrier’s fifth destination in the country.

The flight will operate twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 21:05 hours, and arriving the next day at Izmir’s Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB) at 00:50 hours local time. The return flight will depart Izmir at 01:30 hours, landing in Sharjah at 06:50 hours local time.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said “Turkey is a country with a true epitome of a cultural crossroad, and holds history that is as tangible and accessible as any of its modern-day attractions. We are immensely pleased to announce Izmir as our fifth destination in Turkey. Air Arabia’s goal will always be to allow passengers the ability to explore new destinations through affordable travel options. This new flight to Izmir is an exciting destination for residents in the UAE and GCC to visit just in time for the summer holidays.”

Home to historic sites such as Ephesus and Pergamon, Izmir sits as a focal point of rich Turkish culture, history, and heritage on the Central Aegean coast of Turkey. Its swarmed bazaars, endless dining options, and an enchanting waterfront promenade cover sufficient grounds to earn it an accolade as Turkey's city of life.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to over 140 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsSun, 21 Jan 2018 08:12:39 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airarabia-sunset.jpg?10000Air Arabia Egypt to start service to Italian markethttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-egypt-to-start-service-to-italian-market/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-egypt-to-start-service-to-italian-market/Air Arabia Egypt announced today that it will commence its direct flights to Italy starting from May 4th 2018; serving Milan twice a week from its hub in Alexandria, Egypt.

The flight will operate on Fridays and Sundays under two different timings. On Fridays, the flight will depart from Alexandria International Airport at 16:10 hours, and will arrive at Milan Bergamo International Airport at 19:45 hours local time. The return flight will depart from Milan at 20:30, landing in Alexandria at 24:00 hours local time. On Sundays, the service will depart from Alexandria International Airport at 07:10 hours, and arrive at Milan Bergamo International Airport at 10:45 hours local time. The return flight will depart from Milan at 11:30, landing in Alexandria at 15:00 hours local time.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said “Italy has been a timeless destination for people around the world. From a vibrant arts and culture scene to much-loved fashion and gastronomical delights, Italy leaves an indelible mark on its visitors. The launch of this service from our hub in Alexandria marks a new chapter in the growth of travel demand in Egypt. This venture into Milan strengthens our commitment to continuously offer new and exciting destinations to our passengers, and provide them with affordable options for travel to destinations across our growing route network.”

A fast-moving metropolis in the north of Italy, the city of Milan stands as the epitome of art, fashion and history. The cobbled streets of Milan are filled with luxury and charm in equal measure, and hold an abundance of boutique stores to browse through and shop the industry's latest trends.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 135 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsMon, 15 Jan 2018 23:00:00 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0254-2.jpg?10000Qabala joins Air Arabia’s Azerbaijan network http://press.airarabia.com/qabala-joins-air-arabias-azerbaijan-network/
http://press.airarabia.com/qabala-joins-air-arabias-azerbaijan-network/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today that it will launch a new route in Azerbaijan, flying to the popular touristic city of Qabala from 27 June 2018. Air Arabia currently serve Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan with daily flights.

Featuring a moderate climate and a mountainous landscape, Qabala is a destination of choice for travellers looking to spend their summer closer to nature, immersed in the city’s scenic surroundings and rich cultural heritage.

The flight will operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 13:00 hours, and arriving at Qabala International Airport (GBB) at 016:10 hours local time. The return flight will depart Qabala at 17:15 hours, landing in Sharjah at 19:50 hours local time.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said “Qabala is a sought-after destination and is highly appealing to people in the Gulf region. The city presents a different side to the country, and is full of history. Our flights to Qabala increase the offering of affordable travel to passengers in the Gulf and Azerbaijan, and boost our network in the Caucasus region.”

Qabala is a tranquil and nature-abundant city in Azerbaijan. The city caters to all, offering everything from thrilling entertainment at amusement parks to guided walks, through the heart of its untouched forestlands.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 133 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsMon, 08 Jan 2018 11:39:26 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airarabia-sunset.jpg?10000Air Arabia to boost Turkish network with new summer route to Bodrumhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-to-boost-turkish-network-with-new-summer-route-to-bodrum/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-to-boost-turkish-network-with-new-summer-route-to-bodrum/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today that it will launch a new seasonal route to Bodrum in Turkey, commencing from 13 June 2018.

The flight will operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 21:45 hours, and arriving the next day at Bodrum’s Milas Mugla International Airport (BJV) at 01:30 hours local time. The return flight will depart Bodrum at 02:10 hours, landing in Sharjah at 07:35 hours local time.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said “Turkey has always been a favorable destination for families to visit during holidays. The addition of the new service to Bodrum reflects the healthy market for tourism and the common cultural ties that the two countries share with one another. We are confident that our passengers will enjoy this flight to Bodrum, which adds another destination of choice to our network in the summer.”

Dotting the coastlines of southwestern Turkey with its elegance, Bodrum is renowned for its beaches, hotels and trendy dining options. It is a city that is rich with history and beams with Aegean character. The landscape of Bodrum is likened to a portrait of natural beauty and tranquility, making the destination an unforgettable one for its visitors.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 133 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsThu, 21 Dec 2017 04:49:07 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_taxi-dawn.jpg?10000Air Arabia adds Sheremetyevo airport to Moscow network, boosts Russia flights to double-dailyhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-adds-sheremetyevo-airport-to-moscow-network-boosts-russia-flights-to-double-daily/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-adds-sheremetyevo-airport-to-moscow-network-boosts-russia-flights-to-double-daily/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), today announced that it will begin flights to Sheremetyevo International Airport from 1st February 2018, the second airport Air Arabia serves in Moscow, boosting the flight to daily to serve Russian capital city with a double daily frequency.

The flight to Sheremetyevo International Airport complements the airline’s existing daily services to Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport.

The flight will operate four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 09:10 hours, and arriving at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) at 13:35 hours local time. The return flight will depart Sheremetyevo at 14:35 hours, landing in Sharjah at 20:45 hours local time.

Air Arabia will upgrade to a daily Sheremetyevo flight from 1 March 2018, which will join the current daily flight to Domodedovo to serve the city of Moscow with a double daily frequency.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said “We are pleased to serve Moscow’s two busiest airports providing our customers with choice and convenience. Our flights to Moscow cater to a lively market that is made up of both leisure and business travelers. With the launch of our flights to Sheremetyevo, passengers can now benefit from additional travel options to connect to Russia from Sharjah and other destinations in our network.”

Moscow is home to some of the world's most incredible architecture, and holds a history that is unique and unparalleled. Eternally showcasing its majestic artistry, combined with experiences that provide incomparable thrill, Moscow is truly a city that leaves no stone unturned.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 133 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsTue, 19 Dec 2017 07:32:02 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0254-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia expands in Africa, adds Eritrea to its networkhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-expands-in-africa-adds-eritrea-to-its-network/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-expands-in-africa-adds-eritrea-to-its-network/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today that Asmara will become its first destination in Eritrea, starting from 10 December 2017.

Situated in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea is home to some delightful modernist architecture, and a unique art deco scene for visitors to behold. Asmara is well known for its vibrant traditions, and hosts an abundance of cafés, restaurants and attractions for tourists to immerse themselves into the local culture.

The flight will operate once a week on Sundays, departing Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 22:00 hours, and arriving at Asmara International Airport (ASM) at 01:00 hours local time. The return flight will depart Asmara on Mondays at 01:40, landing in Sharjah the next day at 06:20 hours local time.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said “Eritrea is on the path to becoming an important market for the UAE. Through the launch of this route, we look to boost the trade and bilateral relations between the two countries, and expand our footprint in the African continent. We are excited to commence our operations to Asmara, which will provide affordable travel options to passengers travelling from Eritrea to destinations across our network and beyond.”

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 133 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsTue, 05 Dec 2017 07:21:52 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0033-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia selects AFI KLM E&M for CFM56-5B engine support of growing A320 fleethttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-selects-afi-klm-em-for-cfm56-5b-engine-support-of-growing-a320-fleet/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-selects-afi-klm-em-for-cfm56-5b-engine-support-of-growing-a320-fleet/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced today that it has signed a long-term, full engine support contract for its growing Airbus A320 fleet with Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M), a major multi-product MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) provider.

The agreement was signed by Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia and Anne Brachet, Executive Vice President, Air France KLM Engineering and Maintenance at the Dubai Airshow 2017.

The contract covers engine maintenance of Air Arabia’s current and expanding fleet of 50 A320 aircraft.

The new contract covers the full array of Air Arabia’s fleet requirements, from shop visits to worldwide on-wing support. Real-time engine monitoring will also be on offer via the Prognos® for Engine predictive maintenance solution developed by AFI KLM E&M at its innovation platform, The MRO Lab.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said “Our decision to opt for AFI KLM E&M to fulfil this large-scale and long-term contract demonstrates our confidence in their ability to deliver the highest level of service quality we expect. Working with the right partners will help us grow our fleet and the routes we serve at a faster pace.”

Fabrice Defrance, Senior Vice President Commercial AFI KLM E&M, added: “We are pleased to have Air Arabia select us as a partner of choice for their growing A320 fleet. It is a powerful signal of our ambition to expand in the Middle East and Africa across the full array of our MRO services, and in particular our engine support services.”

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 133 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsThu, 16 Nov 2017 12:04:40 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airarabiaselectsafiklmeampmforcfm56-5benginesupportofgrowinga320fleet.jpeg?10000Air Arabia leases six new Airbus A321neo LR’ aircraft to serve longer range routeshttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-leases-six-new-airbus-a321neo-lr-aircraft-to-serve-longer-range-routes/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-leases-six-new-airbus-a321neo-lr-aircraft-to-serve-longer-range-routes/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), today announced that it has signed a lease agreement for six Airbus (A321neo Long Range) aircraft with the Los Angeles based Air Lease Corporation. These additional aircraft will join Air Arabia’s fleet starting 2019 and will help the airline better serve its existing network as well as enter longer range routes in the near future.

The agreement was signed between Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia and Alex Khatibi, Executive Vice President of Air Lease Corporation (ALC) on the side-lines of Dubai Airshow.

The A321 is a member of Airbus industry leading A320 family which makes up of Air Arabia’s current fleet. The (A321neo LR) has been further enhanced with its new engine option (NEO) jetliner versions and expanded seating capacity with optimised use of cabin space. It is the longest range single aisle airliner on the market. Air Arabia’s new (A321neo LR) aircraft will feature 215 seats per aircraft while maintaining Air Arabia’s industry leading seat pitch that customers currently enjoy.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia commented: “We continue to witness growth in passenger traffic across our hubs and remain focused on our business model and mission to provide affordable fare and value for money to passengers. The addition of A321neo Long Range aircraft allow us to expand our service to longer range destinations and helps offer more flexibility in our existing high density routes. We look forward to receiving the new aircraft in 2019 as we continue to offer our customers an excellent product with more destinations to discover”.

The new (A321neo LR) will join Air Arabia’s existing fleet of 50 A320 aircraft that serve over 133 routes from five hubs in the UAE (Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah), Morocco, Egypt and Jordan.

“We operate our business on a global basis, providing aircraft to airline customers in every major geographical region; and as the fastest growing aviation market in the world, the Middle East region remains one of our key markets. We are pleased to sign this lease agreement with Air Arabia supporting their ambitious growth plans. The A321neo Long Range will complement the carrier’s existing fleet and support its vision to expand into new markets,” said, Alex Khatibi, Executive Vice President of Air Lease Corporation (ALC).

“We are pleased that Air Arabia have chosen to support its fleet with our world-class A321 LR, which is a great addition complementing its current all Airbus fleet,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft. “With its unique customised interior and passenger comfort, the aircraft will enable Air Arabia to continue to innovate and lead the low cost air travel market in the MENA region while providing its customers with a great value driven product”.

The (A321neo LR) builds on the success of the A321neo, which has captured over 80 percent of the market share with more than 1,400 orders to date. It provides additional flexibility as it has the longest range of any single aisle airliner, enabling airlines to tap into new markets not previously accessible with current single aisle aircraft.

]]>newsMon, 13 Nov 2017 11:48:46 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_image0023.jpg?10000Air Arabia posts strong third quarter net profit of AED 376 million, up 27%http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-posts-strong-third-quarter-net-profit-of--aed-376-million-up-27/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-posts-strong-third-quarter-net-profit-of--aed-376-million-up-27/Air Arabia (PJSC), the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier, today announced strong financial results for the third quarter of this year ending September 30, 2017 as the carrier continued to deliver solid and sustained operational and financial performance.

Air Arabia’s financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2017 exceeded analysts’ expectations and registered a net profit of AED 376 million, an increase of 27 per cent compared to the AED 297 million reported for the same period last year. The company’s turnover for the third quarter of 2017 increased by 4 per cent to AED 1.16 billion, compared to AED 1.12 billion in the corresponding period last year. Air Arabia served over 2.33 million passengers in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 3% compared to the same period of last year while the average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – for the same quarter stood at an impressive 81 per cent.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia said: “The solid third quarter results reflect the continuous appeal for our value driven product combined with the cost control measures and robust growth strategy adopted by the airline management team. We are glad to see Air Arabia delivering strong financial and operational performance throughout 2017 despite the continuous pressure on yield margins that airlines in the region are witnessing.”

Air Arabia’s net profit for the first nine months of 2017 stood at an impressive 637 million, up 18 per cent compared to the corresponding period of 2016 while the turnover for the first nine months of this year reached AED 2.88 billion. Air Arabia served over 6.5 million passengers in the first nine months of 2017 while the average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – for the same period stood at an impressive 80 per cent.

Air Arabia received three new Airbus A320 aircraft in the first nine months of 2017 ending September 30 and added 14 new routes from its five operating hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. The carrier currently serves a global destination network of 133 routes across the world.

“Air Arabia continued its robust growth in the first nine months of this year and while we maintain our expansion and reach across all markets, we remain focused on providing customers with the world’s best value driven air travel while focusing on operational efficiency and cost control” Al Thani concluded.

]]>newsSun, 05 Nov 2017 13:34:38 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airplane-above-clouds2-3.jpg?10000Air Arabia opens new sales office and city check-in services in Dubaihttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-opens-new-sales-office-and-city-check-in-services-in-dubai/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-opens-new-sales-office-and-city-check-in-services-in-dubai/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) has further strengthened its operations in Dubai with the opening of a new sales office and city terminal check-in services in Dubai.

The new office is located at Emaar Towers in Deira and will be open from Saturday to Thursday, 09:00am to 08:00pm.

Inaugurating the new office, Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia commented saying: “We are pleased to further strengthening our services in Dubai and the UAE through the new sales office. This step further underpins our commitment to continuously invest in providing our customers with value and convenience across all the countries we operate in”.

The sales and city check-in office will be able to assist customers with booking flights and accessing the latest deals across Air Arabia’s global network.

Passengers can also use the facility to simply drop-off their bags and collect their boarding pass 24 hours before departure. A shuttle bus to Sharjah International Airport airport is also available for added passenger convenience.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 130 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsSun, 08 Oct 2017 09:57:01 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_mradel-diera-inagrual-cermony-cmyk-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia posts strong second quarter net profit of AED 158 million, up 21%http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-posts-strong-second-quarter-net-profit-of--aed-158-million-up-21/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-posts-strong-second-quarter-net-profit-of--aed-158-million-up-21/Air Arabia (PJSC) today announced strong financial results for the second quarter of this year ending June 30, 2017 as the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier continued to deliver robust and sustained performance.

Air Arabia’s financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2017 exceeded analysts’ expectations and registered a net profit of AED 158 million, an increase of 21 per cent compared to the AED 131 million reported for the same period last year. The company’s turnover for the second quarter of 2017 increased to AED 906 million, compared to AED 894 million in the corresponding period last year. Air Arabia served over 2.05 million passengers in the second quarter of 2017, while the average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – for the same quarter stood at an impressive 79 per cent.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia said: “Air Arabia’s strong second quarter financial performance is a testament to the carrier’s operational efficiency and robust growth strategy. Despite the continuous pressure on yield margins, which is driven by the market and the economic environment, Air Arabia managed to register a solid second quarter net profit backed by the carrier’s cost control measures, operational efficiency and combined with its momentum growth”.

Air Arabia’s net profit for the first six months of 2017 stood at 261 million, up 7 per cent compared to the corresponding period of 2016 while the turnover for the first six months of this year reached AED 1.716 billion. The low-cost aviation pioneer served over 4.1 million passengers in the first six months of 2017 while the average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – for the same period stood at an impressive 79 per cent.

“The first half of this year have seen Air Arabia continue its robust growth by launching new routes and increasing capacity across its operating hubs while remaining focused on driving operating cost margins lower by the day” Al Thani continued.

Air Arabia received two new Airbus A320 aircraft in the first half of 2017 ending June 30 and added 12 new routes from its five operating hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. Air Arabia currently serves a global destination network of 130 routes across the world.

He concluded: “We are confident about the appeal of low cost travel in general and Air Arabia services in particular across the markets we operate in. As we continue to further expand our reach and network, we remain focused on operational efficiency, cost control as well as delivering even more value for money air travel to our customers”.

]]>newsMon, 07 Aug 2017 14:11:45 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0033-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia first international flight to commence operations at Sohar Airporthttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-first-international-flight-to-commence-operations-at-sohar-airport/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-first-international-flight-to-commence-operations-at-sohar-airport/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) launched its inaugural flight to Sohar yesterday, making it the first international flight to commence operations at the Sohar Airport.

The Air Arabia flight will operate three times a week, on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, departing from Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 08:00 hours, and arriving at Sohar International Airport (OHS) at 08:40 local time. The return flight departs from Sohar at 09:20, landing in Sharjah at 10:00 local time.

The new route complements Air Arabia’s existing operations in Muscat and Salalah, boosts travel and trade opportunities between the two Gulf countries, and provides hassle-free travel options to the residents of Sohar.

]]>newsMon, 24 Jul 2017 14:33:26 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_img-9191.jpg?10000Air Arabia touches down in Trabzon, Turkeyhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-touches-down-in-trabzon-turkey/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-touches-down-in-trabzon-turkey/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) launched its inaugural flight to Trabzon as its latest Turkish destination.

The new seasonal and direct service provides passengers the chance to discover Turkey’s historic port city, in addition to its already existing services to Istanbul.

The flight operates five times weekly on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays the flight departs Sharjah International Airport at 21:45, and arrives at Trabzon International Airport at 00:20 local time the next day. The return service will depart Trabzon at 01:00, landing in Sharjah at 05:15 local time. On Tuesdays the flight departs Sharjah at 13:15 and arrives at Trabzon at 15:50; return flights depart Trabzon at 16:30 and land in Sharjah at 20:45. While flights on Sundays depart from Sharjah at 16:35 and land in Trabzon at 19:10; return flights depart at 19:50 and arrive at Sharjah at 00:05 the next day.

“Trabzon provides travellers with a unique opportunity to experience Turkey’s coastal region and witness the history behind one of the oldest trading ports in the country. The new route is a testament to Air Arabia’s commitment to providing affordable holiday destinations to passengers travelling from the UAE,” said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. “We are confident that the new destination will provide our visitors with a unique holiday getaway, and further cement trade and bilateral ties between the two nations.”

Resting on the bank of the Black Sea, Trabzon is a city filled with historical significance. Featuring a unique coastal backdrop, this picturesque city is known best for its mystical architecture and bazaars. Situated on the upper east side of the country, Trabzon is a calm metropolis distant from the hustle of Istanbul and Ankara.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 130 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsWed, 05 Jul 2017 09:44:32 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0033-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia adds Sohar to Oman network http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-adds-sohar-to-oman-network/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-adds-sohar-to-oman-network/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) announced today that, starting July 9, 2017, Sohar will become the third destination to join its Oman network.

The new route complements Air Arabia’s existing operations in Oman to Muscat and Salalah, boosts travel and trade opportunities between the two Gulf countries, and provides hassle-free travel options to the residents of Sohar.

The flight will operate three times a week, on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, departing Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 08:00 hours, and arriving at Sohar International Airport (OHS) at 08:40 local time. The return flight will depart Sohar at 09:20, landing in Sharjah at 10:00 local time.

“Announcing a third destination to Oman is a testament to our strong commitment to facilitate passenger travel between Oman and the UAE,” said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. “We are proud to be one of the first international carriers to operate from Sohar International Airport, and look forward to extending our offerings to passengers flying with us between both cities and across our expansive route network.”

Sohar is an ancient city filled with historical and religious significance. The strategic location of the port of Sohar, which lies at the heart of global trade routes between Europe and Asia, has made the city significantly important to the country’s economy, and a hub for its industrial activities.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to over 130 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsWed, 05 Jul 2017 09:41:22 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0033-2.jpg?10000Hargeisa joins Air Arabia’s growing African network http://press.airarabia.com/hargeisa-joins-air-arabias-growing-african-network/
http://press.airarabia.com/hargeisa-joins-air-arabias-growing-african-network/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) announced today that starting 4 July 2017, Hargeisa will be the newest African destination added to its growing international network.

Air Arabia marked its entry into the African market in 2004, and currently serves six destinations across Egypt, Sudan and Kenya from its main hub in Sharjah. The new flights to Hargeisa, Somaliland will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 03:45 hours, and arriving at Hargeisa Egal International Airport (HGA) at 06:15 local time. The return flight will depart Hargeisa at 06:55, landing in Sharjah at 11:25 local time.

“Hargeisa offers travellers a unique blend of contemporary and modern experiences from one street to the next and the city has all the amenities a traveller could wish for: from culture to commercial and more,” said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. “We are glad to announce this new route and are confident that this will establish Hargeisa as a destination of choice and appeal to the growing tourism and trade sectors”.

Hargeisa, currently undergoing a rapid transformation focussed on economic growth and development, has an estimated population of 1.2 million people and is a vibrant commercial centre and a hub for the construction, retail and precious stone-cutting sectors.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to over 130 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsWed, 14 Jun 2017 09:33:11 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_sharklets3.jpg?10000 Yerevan soars as popular holiday destination for GCC familieshttp://press.airarabia.com/yerevan-soars-as-popular-holiday-destination-for-gcc-families/
http://press.airarabia.com/yerevan-soars-as-popular-holiday-destination-for-gcc-families/Armenia is fast proving to be a popular destination for GCC families, especially Indian citizens living in the Gulf, thanks to the latest visa-on-arrival policy that the country implemented earlier this year.

Armenia appeals to a wide spectrum of holiday-goers, from thrill seeking adventurers to those looking for more family-orientated trips, Yerevan is an exciting destination for many groups.

Situated at the centre of the natural beauty that is the Caucasus Mountain Region, Armenia’s natural surroundings make it a highly attractive option for the likes of backpackers and the more adventurous traveller.

Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), commenced operations to Armenia in 2013 and, today, flies to Yerevan four times a week from Sharjah. Flight times are approximately three-hours, with the route being served by an Airbus A320.

In addition to flights, the carrier's tour operating division, Air Arabia Holidays, also offers holiday packages at affordable rates, while maintaining a level of flexibility that allows passengers to tailor their trip to their unique requirements.

A country steeped in history, Armenia features landscapes that are punctuated with breath-taking mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls. With historic sights and ancient architecture also among its many appeals – as well as having one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world – Armenia offers countless sightseeing opportunities and cultural experiences, making it a unique holiday destination for GCC residents.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 125 destinations in 35 countries from five hubs across the Middle East and North Africa.

Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED103 million for the three months ending March 31, 2017, a 10 percent less than the corresponding 2016 figure of AED114 million. In the same period, the airline posted a turnover of AED810 million, a 14 percent less than the corresponding first quarter of last year. The solid financial results were recorded amidst the continuous drop in the yield margins that the industry witnessed in the first quarter of this year; and were backed by Air Arabia’s strong passenger demand as well as cost control measures taken by the carrier.

More than 2.1 million passengers flew with Air Arabia between January and March 2017, in line with the record number of passengers carried in the first quarter of last year. The airline’s average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – during the first three months of 2017 stood at an impressive 81 per cent.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “We are glad to see Air Arabia recording strong first quarter financial results despite the impact of lower yield margins that the industry continued to witness in the first quarter of this year. The strong measures that we took in driving cost margins lower while optimizing revenue opportunities have proven once again the resilient and dynamic business model that we operate.”

He added: “We continue to witness strong passenger demand for Air Arabia’s innovative and value added services and we remain confident of the growth prospects of the low cost travel segment in the region. We believe the market economic and trading conditions are on an improving trajectory and we are optimistic that this will reflect positively on the industry’s performance for the rest of the year”.

Air Arabia added one new route from its main hub in Sharjah in the first three months of 2017, with flights commencing to Baku in Azerbaijan. This was followed by the announcement of new seasonal flights from Sharjah to Trabzon, Turkey staring June 2017. In addition, Air Arabia added one new route in the first quarter of this year from its operating hub in Morocco between Casablanca and Catania in Italy. The carrier took delivery of 1 new aircraft in the first quarter of this year and currently operating a fleet of 47 Airbus A320 aircraft operating to 126 routes across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

]]>newsSun, 07 May 2017 14:01:55 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0033-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia’s award-winning ‘Charity Cloud’ program celebrates 10th anniversaryhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabias-award-winning-charity-cloud-program-celebrates-10th-anniversary/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabias-award-winning-charity-cloud-program-celebrates-10th-anniversary/Charity Cloud, Air Arabia’s award-winning corporate social responsibility program today celebrated 10 years since the launch of its first project.

‘Charity Cloud’ program was launched by Air Arabia in partnership with Sharjah Charity International as an initiative for social and economic development of underprivileged communities around the world. The initiative is focused on building and operating educational and healthcare projects in needy communities across the Air Arabia destination network. The program marked its first successful first project in 2007 by launching the first ‘Charity Cloud Clinic’ in the remote area of Jallas in Sudan.

Till date, ‘Charity Cloud’ has built multiple clinics and schools in various communities in the region. Charity Cloud Clinics are spread across Sudan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Egypt while Charity Cloud schools are operating in Sri Lanka, India, Turkey and Nepal. A New ‘Charity Cloud’ school is currently being built in Egypt to provide education to 400 local students.

Since inception, over 70,000 patients received medical treatments across Charity Cloud Clinics and at present, over 30,000 patients are treated annually. Each of Charity Cloud schools caters to some 300 student every year. In addition, the programme has launched over 70 aid-campaigns in over 12 countries across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia over the past 10 years.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said: “Providing affordable air travel to passengers is at the core of Air Arabia’s philosophy and we strongly believe, it is equally important for us to reach out and support the communities that are in need. Through our strong partnership with Sharjah Charity International, we were able to set the right foundation for sustainable educational and healthcare initiatives across many regional communities. I commend the efforts of our team for enabling the ‘Charity Cloud’ to soar higher, and extend my sincere appreciation to our passengers who have supported this initiative through their generous donations.”

Construction has already begun for a new two-storey ‘Charity Cloud’ school in Egypt, which aims to provide education to 400 students at the primary, middle and secondary school levels.

In 2014 and 2016, ‘Charity Cloud’ was crowned the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year’ title at the one of the region’s most prestigious awards ceremony.

Charity Cloud accepts donations exclusively from passengers on board Air Arabia flights, through special envelopes that are available in their seat.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 125 destinations in 35 countries from five hubs across the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsWed, 26 Apr 2017 10:31:22 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_img-20170413-wa00141.jpg?10000Air Arabia adds Trabzon to Turkey networkhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-adds-trabzon-to-turkey-network/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-adds-trabzon-to-turkey-network/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), announced Trabzon as its latest Turkish destination to enter its route network, starting 23 June 2017.

The new seasonal non-stop service provides passengers the chance to discover Turkey’s historic port city, in addition to its already existing services to Istanbul.

The flight will operate three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing Sharjah International Airport at 21:30, and arriving at Trabzon International Airport at 00:05 local time the next day. The return service will depart Trabzon at 00:45, landing in Sharjah at 05:00 local time.

“Trabzon provides travellers with a unique opportunity to experience Turkey’s coastal region and witness the history behind one of the oldest trading ports in the country. The new route is a testament to Air Arabia’s commitment to providing affordable holiday destinations to passengers travelling from the UAE,” said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. “We are confident that the new destination will provide our visitor with a unique holiday getaway, and further cement trade and bilateral ties between the two nations.”

Resting on the bank of the Black Sea, Trabzon is a city filled with religious and historical significance. Featuring a unique coastal backdrop, this picturesque city is known best for its mystical architecture and bazaars. Situated on the upper east side of the country, Trabzon is a calm metropolis distant from the hustle of Istanbul and Ankara.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 125 routes across the globe from five hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsSun, 26 Mar 2017 07:14:05 +0100https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0254-2.jpg?10000Air Arabia inaugural Baku flight takes offhttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-inaugural-baku-flight-takes-off/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-inaugural-baku-flight-takes-off/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), launched its inaugural service to Baku earlier today. This new flight marks Air Arabia’s first entrance into Azerbaijan and its expanding travel market.

An official delegation including Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations - Sharjah, and Emirati Ambassador to Azerbaijan as well as the Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UAE were also on board the inaugural flight to Baku.

The new route supports Azerbaijan’s recently signed travel decree, which aims at boosting tourism in the country.

The inaugural flight departed Sharjah International Airport this morning at 09:00 am local time, and the aircraft received a traditional water canon salute upon arrival to Baku, were the official inaugural visit will last for two days.

Air Arabia announced that the destination will be served four times a week, and will operate under two flight timings. On Thursdays and Sundays, the flight departs Sharjah at 07:55, and arrives at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku at 10:50 local time. The return flight leaves Baku at 11:30, reaching Sharjah at 14:10 local time.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays, the flight leaves Sharjah at 14:55 to land in Baku at 17:50 local time, and departs Baku at 18:50 for its return journey, arriving at Sharjah International Airport at 21:30 local time.

“Azerbaijan is a culture-rich country with a fast-emerging appeal for tourism,” said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia.“We are excited to announce this service, and hope that our passengers enjoy our award-winning offerings. We are confident that this step will establish Baku as a destination of choice for true cultural experiences, and will positively contribute to the rapidly-growing tourism industry in Azerbaijan”.

Baku, in its essence, resembles a harmonious blend of Europe and Asia, and acts as the financial hub of Azerbaijan. The city is a true example of past-meets-future, offering it all from skyscrapers and modern boutiques, to important historical sites. The new flight adds to the growing list of ‘short holiday’ destinations served by Air Arabia. Baku etched its name in international sports by hosting the European Grand Prix. Furthermore, the Caucasus city has recently been named a host for the UEFA Euro 2020 football championship.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 124 destinations from five hubs across the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsThu, 16 Mar 2017 10:03:35 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_im--8569.jpg?10000Air Arabia shareholders approve seven percent cash dividend at Annual General Meetinghttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-shareholders-approve-seven-percent-cash-dividend-at-annual-general-meeting/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-shareholders-approve-seven-percent-cash-dividend-at-annual-general-meeting/Air Arabia (PJSC) (DFM: AIRARABIA) shareholders approved the distribution of a seven percent cash dividend for the financial year ending December 31, 2016 at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Sharjah today. The dividend, which is equivalent to seven fils per share, mirrors another year of sound financial performance for the award-winning low-cost carrier.

The recommendation of the Board of Directors follows the airline’s strong financial performance in the year ending December 31, 2016, which recorded a net profit of AED 509 million.

During the AGM, the assembly approved the report of the company’s auditors for the financial year ending December 31, 2016, as well as the balance sheet and profit and loss accounts for the same period.

The Board of Directors and auditors of the company were also discharged from liability for the financial year ending December 31, 2016, while auditors for the next fiscal year were appointed and their remuneration fixed. The assembly also elected the board of directors for the coming three years.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: "We are pleased with the financial performance of the company in 2016, which reflected on the distribution of cash dividends to shareholders. Air Arabia’s business model and operational efficiency drives our growth strategy while continuing to maintain a strong financial performance throughout the year.”

Air Arabia carried more than 8.4 million passengers in 2016, recording a 12% increase on 2015 figures. The airline reported a total revenue of AED 3.8 billion by the end of the fourth quarter of 2016.

The airline received seven new A320 aircraft, bringing the feet size to 46, and added nine new destinations to its network, serving a total of 124 destinations from its five hubs in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Casablanca, Amman, and Alexandria.

The year 2016 also witnessed Air Arabia etching its mark as a strong force in the realm of low-cost carriers, supported by various awards, which are:

‘Low Cost Airline of the Year’ award at the Aviation Business Awards of 2016

‘Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year’ award for its ‘Charity Cloud’ program, at the Aviation Business Awards of 2016

Mr. Adel Abdullah Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, accepted the ‘Airline CEO of the Year’ award at the renowned CEO Middle East Awards 2016

‘Best Low-cost Airline serving the Middle East’ at the 2016 edition of the Business Traveller Middle East Awards

The Airfinance Journal ranked Air Arabia 3rd in its ‘Top 50 airlines of the World’ list

Air Arabia currently operates flights to 124 destinations in 33 countries from five hubs across the Middle East and North Africa.

]]>newsMon, 06 Mar 2017 05:56:14 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airarabiaagmmeeting.jpg?10000Air Arabia delivers strong 2016 net profit of AED 509 million http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-delivers-strong-2016-net-profit-of-aed-509-million/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-delivers-strong-2016-net-profit-of-aed-509-million/Air Arabia (PJSC) today announced full-year financial results for 2016 as the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier continued to deliver healthy growth and strong levels of profitability despite challenging market conditions.

Air Arabia’s net profit for the full year ending December 31, 2016 was AED 509 million, a 4 per cent lower than 2015 figure of AED 531 million. Turnover for the full year 2016 was in line with the preceding 12 months reaching AED 3.8 billion. More than 8.4 million passengers flew with Air Arabia in 2016, a 12 per cent year-on-year increase. The average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – in 2016 stood at an impressive 79 per cent.

Following its solid full year 2016 performance, Air Arabia’s Board of Directors proposed a dividend distribution of 7 per cent of share capital, which is equivalent to 7 fils per share. This proposal was made following a meeting of the board of directors of Air Arabia and is subject to ratification by Air Arabia’s shareholders at the company’s upcoming Annual General Meeting.

Air Arabia added 9 new routes to its global network in 2016 from its five operating hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. The carrier took delivery of 7 new aircraft and ended the year with a fleet of 46 Airbus A320 aircraft operating to 124 routes across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia said: “2016 was a challenging year for the global aviation market as the economic and political uncertainty continued to impact the industry. We have seen vigilant fiscal markets, weakening currencies and political instability impacting airlines performance. Despite all challenges, Air Arabia recorded solid full year results driven by growth, efficient operations and tight cost controls”.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, Air Arabia reported a net loss of AED 33 million despite maintaining a strong average seat load factor of 80%. Turnover for the three months ending December 31, 2016 was AED 814 million, a drop of 15 per cent compared to AED 956 million in the same period in 2015. Air Arabia flew 2.1 million passengers in the final quarter of 2016, an increase of 6% on the corresponding 2015 figure.

“The fourth quarter of 2016 was impacted by deteriorating yield margins that the industry in general and the Middle East region in particular is witnessing” Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani continued: “The solid operating metrics and high seat load factor that Air Arabia achieved in the fourth quarter were impacted by continuous drop in yield margins as a result of the overcapacity deployed in the market and the slow growth environment in major economic hubs”.

He added: “As the market conditions continue to be challenging, Air Arabia will continue to drive its business by a clear strategy for organic growth and supported by strong measures to continue driving operating expenses lower. Above all, we will remain focused on delivering innovative value driven services to our customers allowing them to travel more often to more places”.

Air Arabia was ranked 3rd among top 50 airlines in the world in 2016 by Airfinance Journal. The carrier was also named “Best Low-cost Airline serving the Middle East” at the Business Traveller Middle East 2016 Awards as well as “Best Value Leisure Product Award’ at Travel Trade Fair Pune in India. The carrier Chief Executive Officer was also named “Airline CEO of the Year” at the prestigious CEO Middle East Awards 2016. The carriers corporate social responsibility program “Charity Cloud” was also recognized once again in 2016 by winning the “Initiative of the Year” award.

]]>newsThu, 09 Feb 2017 06:01:29 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_aa-0141.jpg?10000Air Arabia confirms options for five Airbus A320shttp://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-confirms-options-for-five-airbus-a320s/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabia-confirms-options-for-five-airbus-a320s/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier, announced today that it has confirmed options for five additional Airbus A320 aircraft. The delivery of original contract covering 44 firm orders and 5 options will be completed in 2017.

The five new Airbus A320 aircraft will be put into service starting second quarter 2017 backlog and have a book value of USD485 million. These new aircraft will join Air Arabia’s expanding fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft currently serving over 120 routes from five operational hubs.

“We are pleased to confirm the options for five additional Airbus A320s. Air Arabia’s fleet innovation sits at the heart of the airline operational efficiency” said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. “Today, we operate one of the youngest fleets in the world and this approach will continue to drive our fleet growth strategy for the future. Our customers can expect the same cabin comfort and spacious seat configuration with the new five aircraft joining the fleet”.

Air Arabia has been constantly rewarded over the past years with the A320 Family Operational Excellence Award by Airbus for achieving the highest level of A320 family aircraft utilisation in the world with 99.8 per cent operational reliability. In 2010, the carrier set a new world record achieving 30,000 flight hours in just six years with one of its CFM56-5B-powered A320 aircraft.

Air Arabia currently operates a fleet of 46 Airbus A320 aircraft offering flights to over 120 destinations in 33 countries from five hubs across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognized as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family in the world.

- 2.27 million passengers flew with Air Arabia in third quarter ending September 30, 2016, up 14 per cent

]]>Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2016, as the success of the company’s expansion strategy continued to be reflected in strong performance figures.

Air Arabia’s net profit for the third quarter of 2016 was 297 million, up 26 per cent compared to AED 235 million reported in the corresponding period of 2015. For the three months ending September 30, 2016, the airline posted a turnover of AED 1.12 billion, in line with the revenue generated in the same period of 2015. Air Arabia served over 2.27 million passengers in the third quarter of 2016, a 14 per cent increase compared to 2 million passengers in the same period of last year. The average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – for the same quarter stood at an impressive 81 per cent.

Air Arabia’s net profit for the first nine months of 2016 stood at 542 million, up 15 per cent compared to AED 472 million reported in the corresponding period of 2015. For the nine months ending September 30, 2016, the airline posted a turnover of AED 2.96 billion, an increase of 3 per cent compared to AED 2.86 billion in the same period of 2015. The low-cost aviation pioneer served over 6.3 million passengers in the first nine month of 2016, a 14 per cent year-on-year increase. The average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – for the same period stood at an impressive 80 per cent.

Air Arabia completed 13 years last month, maintaining its continuous record of profitability since its first year of operations. The carrier added five new routes to its global network during the first nine months of 2016 from its operating hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Jordan.

Air Arabia also added to its impressive list of international accolades in the third quarter of 2016 when it was ranked third among the top 50 airlines in the world following a report compiled by Airfinance Journal surveying 137 carriers across the globe. The carrier was also named “Low Cost Airline of the Year’ at the Aviation Business Awards and took home the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year’ award in recognition for its ‘Charity Cloud’ program. Air Arabia’s Group Chief Executive Officer Adel Al Ali has also won ‘Airline CEO of the Year’ award at the 10th CEO Middle East Awards that took place in September 2016.

]]>newsSun, 13 Nov 2016 14:41:27 +0000https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1724/500_airarabia2.jpg?10000Air Arabia’s ‘Charity Cloud’ Program Wins ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year’ Award http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabias-charity-cloud-program-wins-corporate-social-responsibility-initiative-of-the-year-award/
http://press.airarabia.com/air-arabias-charity-cloud-program-wins-corporate-social-responsibility-initiative-of-the-year-award/Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier, has won the award for ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ Initiative of the Year’ for its ‘Charity Cloud’ program at Aviation Business Awards 2016 held recently at the Conrad Hotel, Dubai.

Currently in its tenth edition, the Aviation Business Awards is a prestigious event that gives out awards annually in 15 categories, covering the airline, airport and cargo sectors to celebrate the achievements of leading players and their contributions to the region’s aerospace industry.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “To be singled out for recognition for our CSR efforts speaks at length about our business philosophy that has helped us cruise to high altitudes of success. As a responsible business, we believe that in addition to striving to make air travel more affordable and delivering a high-quality passenger experience, we must also commit to creating opportunities that will improve the quality of life for underprivileged communities.”

The top prize in the Low Cost Carrier (LCC) category for Air Arabia comes against a backdrop of strong strategic gains in the past months, demonstrating resilience and business strength in an economically competitive environment.

Long recognised as a CSR leader within the aviation industry, Air Arabia’s Charity Cloud Program was launched in 2005 in collaboration with Sharjah Charity International and id dedicated towards improving the lives of the underprivileged through investing in education and healthcare establishments across the world. Today, Charity Cloud is home for a large number of schools and clinics operating in needy communities.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to over 120 destinations in 33 countries from five hubs across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe.